Vessels having a collapsible bottom and inflatable surround



y 5, 1964 i J. Y. COUSTEAU ETAL 3,131,406

VESSELS HAVING A COLLAPSIBLE BOTTOM AND INFLATABLE SURROUND 2Sheets-*Sheet 1 Filed June 29, 1961 y 5, 1964 J. Y. COUSTEAU ETAL3,131,406

VESSELS HAVING A COLLAPSIBLE BOTTOM AND INFLATABLE SURROUND Filed June29, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent '0 3,131,406 VESSELSHAVING A COLLAPSIBLE BOTTOM AND INFLATABLE SURRQUND Jacques YvesCousteau, Paris, France, Emile Gaguan, Monh'eal, Quebec, Canada, andJean Andre Alinat, Nice, France, assignors to La Spirotechnique FiledJune 29, 1961, Ser. No. 120,670 Claims priority, application France July13, 1960 12 Claims. (Cl. 911) The present invention relates to a vesselcomprising an inflatable float tube of a general U-shape, closed towardsthe base of the U by a transverse inflatable tube, a bottom canvas orcloth connecting the tubes and a rigid platform or deck which ispositioned on the bottom canvas and the edges of which are positionedbetween the canvas and the float tubes when the latter are inflated.

Vessels of this type are easy to transport in the deflated and foldedcondition; they can carry loads and motor propulsion units which arelarge relatively to their actual weight and they behave well in the sea.However, the protection which these vessels offer against bad weather,spray and the breaking of waves is negligible or zero.

An object of the present invention is to permit the occupants of thevessel to be protected and enable them to handle cumbersome equipmentunder cover, without greatly reducing the facility for transportpurposes.

In accordance with the invention, the vessel comprises a frame which isrigid in itself and is positioned on the deck, the periphery of the baseof this frame being accommodated between the deck and the float tubes.

The frame improves the rigidity of the vessel; in addi tion, a coveradapted to the vessel can be mounted on the said frame. Preferably, acanopy of flexible material is fitted on the said frame, possiblysecured to the latter at certain points and detachably secured to thefloat tubes, possibly by means of a flap permanently fixed to the floattubes, the material of the cloth and that of the possible flap, and itsfixing means, having little permeability to air. An air compressor setsup a superatmospheric pressure of a few centimetres of water in thespace between the canopy and the cloth or canvas situated beneath thedeck. The compressor operates at least during travels of fairly longduration.

The canopy protects the occupants of the vessel and the equipment whichit covers; the fact that it is inflated prevents it from flapping orforming pockets in which water will remain and enables it to resistheavy seas without fatigue; furthermore, if the canopy should be locallytorn the internal superatmospheric pressure to a large extent preventsthe entry of water. Due to the canopy being inflated, it does notcontact or scarcely contacts the frame, and this considerablyreduces thewear thereon; moreover, it contributes to the rigidity of the assembly.

Other objects and features of the invention will become more apparentduring the course of the following descrip tion when taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawing which represents one embodiment of theinvention.

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the hull or shell proper of the vessel.

FIGURE 2 is a transverse section on the line II-II of FIGURE 1 of theshell, only the parts in section and the first rods of the frame beingshown.

3,131,406 Patented May 5, 1964 FIGURES 3 and 4 are perspective viewsshowing two assemblies which constitute the said frame. In order ofimportance, the hull or shell proper comprises essentially, in knownmanner:

An inflated float tube of a general U-shape with lateral portions 1, 2and a raised front portion 3; this float tube may be subdivided bywater-tight partitions into separately inflatable elements;

a transverse inflated tube 4 forming the base of the U;

a water-tight cloth or canvas 5 fixed to the float tubes towards thebases thereof;

a platform or deck 6 positioned on the bottom canvas 5, the peripherythereof being located between the canvas and the tubes; this deckcomprises a lattice of longitudinal and transverse members covered withpanels made of a laminated plastic. Its periphery is indicated in FIGURE1 by the broken line 48.

Propulsion of the vessel can be assured by one or more propulsion unitsof the outboard type, for example three units 8, 9, 10; in order tofacilitate maneuvering, the steering controls of these units arepreferably inter-connected, as are also their other control means. It isalso possible to employ for propulsion purposes one or more aerialpropellers, or nozzles which may or may not be orientated and throughwhich is forced the water taken from the area in which the Vessel isoperating, etc.

The propulsion units can be fixed to a board or plate 7 disposed at therear of the vessel.

The rigid frame is fitted on the deck and even preferably detachablysecured to the latter; this fixing improves the rigidity of the frame.In the example illustrated, the frame consists of two parts:

(A) a triangulated frame, indicated by the general reference 12 andshown in FIGURE 3; this frame 12 comprises a ridge 13, a base 14, whichfollows the contour of the deck, but slightly set back, andtriangulation rods such as 15, 16;

(B) a non-rigid frame indicated by the general reference 17 and shown inFIGURE 4; this frame 17 comprises more especially a belt 18 and rods,for example 19, 20, 21, connecting the belt to various points of theframe 12, to which these rods are fixed. The ridge 13 of the frame 12 isshown in broken lines in FIGURE 4.

The assembly of the two parts 12, 17 is in itself rigid; the part 12 maybe rigid in itself, as in the case illustrated.

The frame 17 also comprises rods such as 22, 23, 24, 25, which serve asthe framing for a pilot house above the canopy consisting of flexiblematerial 26, and which can also support various parts of equipment, suchas a search-light, hooter, radar and the like; it comprises at one end abulkhead 27 closing the canopy and provided with a lock chamber 28permitting access to the interior of the inflated canopy, or egresstherefrom without an excessive volume of air leaving the canopy.

The bulkhead 27 also carries a fan 29 which places the interior of thecanopy under a superatmospheric pressure of 2 to 5 cm. of water, thisbeing permanently maintained while the vessel is moving. The essentialpurpose of the frame 12 is to give rigidity to the entire vessel; thepurpose of the frame 17 is to support the canopy and thus to ensuresuflicient free space when the canopy is not under superatmosphericpressure.

The canopy 26 is for example a sheet of polyvinyl chloride reinforcedwith nylon cloth. It is connected to the float tubes by flap 32 ofrubberised cloth, for example with neoprene, like the float tubes, asshown in FIG- URE 2. The connection between the canopy and the flap isduplicated; these two members are laced to one another, as indicated at31; on the other hand, the edges of strips which are respectively stuckthereto are joined together by a sliding clasp fastener 30. The lacing31 ensures a rigid mechanical connection while the sliding claspfastener ensures tightness.

The union 47 between the flap and the bulkhead 27 on the one hand, andthe canopy on the other hand, is indicated by broken lines in FIGURE 1.i

The canopy is simply placed on the frame 17 and on the ridge 13; itcould also be fixed at individual points to these elements. Whileunderway, the canopy is inflated by the fan 29 and only rests on thebelt 18; it could also be given a shape such that it does not rest onthe said element.

The canopy 2.6 is preferably provided with scuttles of transparentplastic.

The pilot house, the frame of which is formed by the rods such as 22,23, 24, 25, is connected to the canopy in the same way as the floattubes, namely, by a flap fixed to the corresponding opening of thecanopy, by a lacing and by a sliding clasp fastener. It is in effect thesame for the connection between the bulkhead 27 and the canopy.

The deck is formed with several openings or wells which give access tothe water:

On the one hand, a large well or opening 33 which enables a drivingvessel for example to be placed in and taken out of the water and alsoenables the said vessel to be boarded; this vessel may be raised orlowered by a block and tackle fixed to the ridge 13;

On the other hand, an opening 34 of smaller dimensions, permitting theuse of a propulsion unit which is easily movable for operating at slowspeed.

The edges of these openings are fixed to the deck 6; they aresufficiently high so that water does not pass through them, at leastwhen at rest, under the impulse of the swell and waves. The tightness isensured by the bottom canvas or cloth 5, which forms a sleeve extendingthe length of the wall of the opening and turned over outwardly of thelatter.

While the vessel is underway, it is preferable to close the bottom ofthe openings, for example by a cloth stretched beneath the bottomcanvas. In this way, the resistance to forward movement is greatlyreduced, as is also the danger of the water flowing over the sides ofthe openings. This closure device need not be watertight. In FIGURE 2,the cloths 5 and 45 are spaced apart so that the latter can be seen; inactual fact, they are positioned one against the other.

The float tubes 1, 2, 3, 4, or at least some of them, may serve as atank for liquids: fuels for supplying the engines, drinking water, etc.Each of the portions thus employed contains two fluids-tight andflexible envelopes or bags disposed one above the other, as shown inFIG- URE 2. The upper bag, such as 37 or 38, is inflated with air, forexample at a pressure of 80 to 100 cm. of water. The lower bag, such as3? or 46, contains a liquid which is to be stored, this being a liquidwith respect to which the material of the envelope must be inert. Whenthe liquid volume decreases, the air in the bag 37 or 38 expands, thecorresponding portion of the float tube thus remaining inflated; thecompressor on FIGURE 1) is operated for inflating the tubes with afrequency sufficient for these to maintain a suitable pressure. As thewater and fuel is used, the pressure exerted by the upper bags has theadditional advantage of placing the liquids under pressure, this greatlyfacilitating the withdrawal thereof. The very low positioning of theseliquids provides a great amount of stability for the vessel.

Preferably, thebags are sufficiently solid to resist the inflationpressure, even when they are not in the float tubes.

The tubes are equipped with manholes permitting the introduction and theextraction of the bags.

' A raised platform (not shown) is placed on the float tubes to the rearof the bulkhead. It forms a large working area; it preferably comprisesholes similar to the opening 34 but not provided with a raised edge orflange, for the easy mounting of auxiliary propulsion units.

Modifications may be incorporated in the vessel which has been describedabove and within the scope of the present invention. It can for examplebe provided with equipment which has not so far been mentioned, such asa radiotelephone transmitter and receiver, an electric generator, asafety compressor and a safety fan, etc. The frame 12, 17 may be ofdifferent forms. Our invention should, therefore, be limited only asrequired by the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. A vessel, comprising, an inflatable float tube of a general U formclosed towards the base of the U by a transverse inflatable tube; abottom cloth connecting the tubes; a rigid deck positioned on the clothand the edges of which are accommodated between the cloth and the tubeswhen the latter are inflated; and a frame, rigid in itself andpositioned on the deck, the periphery of the base of said frame beingaccommodated between the deck and the tubes, and the higher portion ofsaid frame being sufficiently high above said deck for men to moveupright on the deck, beneath said frame.

2. A vessel, comprising, an inflatable float tube of a general U formclosed towards the base of the U by a transverse inflatable tube; abottom cloth connecting the tubes; a rigid deck positioned on the clothand the edges of which are accommodated between the cloth and the tubeswhen the latter are inflated; a frame, rigid in itself and positioned onthe deck, the periphery of the base of said frame being accommodatedbetween the deck and the tubes; and a canopy of flexible material havinglow air-permeability, said canopy resting on said frame and beingdetachably secured to the float tubes by fixing means having lowair-permeability.

3. A vessel as set forth in claim 2, wherein said canopy is detachablysecured to the frame at various points.

4. A vessel as set forth in claim 2, wherein the canopy is detachablysecured to the float tubes by means of a flap permanently fixed to saidtubes, the material of the flap having low air-permeability.

5. A vessel as set forth in claim 2, comprising an air compressor forsetting up a superatmospheric pressure of a few centimetres of water inthe space contained between the canopy and the cloth situated beneaththe deck. 6. A vessel as set forth in claim 2, comprising an air lockadapted to permit access to the space contained between the canopy andthe cloth situated beneath the deck without causing any great loss ofair.

7. A vessel as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one of the floattubes contains at least one liquid, the tube portions thus usedcontaining two fluid-tight and flexible envelopes disposed one above theother, the upper envelope being inflated with air and the lower envelopebeing filled with liquid.

8. A vessel as set forth in claim 7, comprising an air compressor forinflating the upper envelope.

9. A vessel as set forth in claim 1, wherein said deck comprises a well,the sides of said Well extending all around it higher than the waterline of the vessel and being lined by the said bottom cloth.

10. A vessel as set forth in claim 9, comprising at least one additionalwell adapted to dispose a mobile propulsion unit under the canopy and touse said unit.

11. A vessel as set forth in claim 1, wherein said deck comprises awell, the sides of said well extending higher than the water line of thevessel, and said vessel compris- 5 ing an easily removable panel adaptedfor closing the 2,698,447 bottom of the Well. 2,804,633 12. A vessel asset forth in claim 11, comprising at 2,826,163 least one additional welladapted to disposed a mobile 2,876,467 propulsion unit under the canopyand to use said unit. 5 2,888,690

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,203,565 Field June 4, 1940 6 Potts Jan. 4, 1955 Taylor et a1. Sept. 3,1957 King Mar. 11, 1958 Lund Mar. 10, 1959 Shaw June 2, 1959 OTHERREFERENCES Moreis: M16566XI (65c), December 15, 1955 (Gen man printedapplication).

1. A VESSEL, COMPRISING, AN INFLATABLE FLOAT TUBE OF A GENERAL U FORMCLOSED TOWARDS THE BASE OF THE U BY A TRANSVERSE INFLATABLE TUBE; ABOTTOM CLOTH CONNECTING THE TUBES; A RIGID DECK POSITIONED ON THE CLOTHAND THE EDGES OF WHICH ARE ACCOMMODATED BETWEEN THE CLOTH AND THE TUBESWHEN THE LATTER ARE INFLATED; AND A FRAME, RIGID IN ITSELF ANDPOSITIONED ON THE DECK, THE PERIPHERY OF THE BASE OF SAID FRAME BEINGACCOMMODATED BETWEEN THE DECK AND THE TUBES, AND THE HIGHER PORTION OFSAID FRAME BEING SUFFICIENTLY HIGH ABOVE SAID DECK FOR MEN TO MOVEUPRIGHT ON THE DECK, BENEATH SAID FRAME.